Blue Jays' prospect Hiraldo draws comparisons to Guerrero Jr.
Dominican shortstop/third baseman Miguel Hiraldo signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017 as an international free agent for $750,000 US, and is set to start his second season in their minor-league system. Photo: Alejandro Gaitan
By Alejandro Gaitán
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Miguel Hiraldo is unfazed by the pressure of being a top prospect.
Once Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and the likes of Bo Bichette and Danny Jansen cement their positions on the major league roster, the Toronto Blue Jays have another hitting prospect in Hiraldo on the horizon.
The Dominican shortstop/third baseman signed with the Blue Jays in 2017 as an international free agent for $750,000 US, and will start his second season in the minor-league system with the same dream he had when he was a child.
“This season, I want to play in a long league (full-season), at least A level,” said Hiraldo, in Spanish. “I feel that if I work hard, I can be in the Major Leagues (in) three or four years.”
During his first and only season, Hiraldo had a total of 279 plate appearances between the Gulf Coast League and Dominican Summer League, producing a .300 average/.362 on base percentage/.435 power stat line.
This has led some scouts to compare Hiraldo’s power to Guerrero Jr., baseball’s top prospect.
“That motivates me a lot,” Hiraldo said. “Vlad Guerrero Jr. is a phenomenon and makes me want to keep working, giving everything as I always do, to be able to follow his path, if not better.”
Guerrero Jr. is not the only Dominican player who motivates Hiraldo. While he was growing up, he watched fellow countryman Miguel Tejada, former MVP and six-time all-star.
“Miguel Tejada gave me a dream to play baseball,” he said. “I grew up watching him play in the winter leagues in the Dominican Republic. He was always focused, helping the young players. He motivated me to be a player.”
Tejada was not only an inspiration, but also a direct and vocal influence on the young infielder.
“My grandpa introduced him to me when I was a child, and he told me something I’ll never forget, ‘Keep going. There will always be critics, people who underestimate you, but you have to think bigger,’” said Hiraldo, currently ranked Toronto’s No. 13 prospect (by MLBPipeline.com), and No. 14, by Baseball Toronto.
“You envision that when he gets bigger and a little bit stronger that he’s going to hit some, he will have some power,” said Hunter Mense, Blue Jays minor league hitting coordinator.
“Improve every day” is a slogan the Blue Jays repeat throughout the minor leagues and is the goal Hiraldo has for this season, with the big leagues in mind.
“If you are working hard enough, it doesn’t matter if you are Latino, from the United States or any other place. If you are doing a great job and deserve a chance, you will get it”.